Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
He needed to knock himself upside the head as a reminder that he’d desperately needed help with Val and now that he found someone, he needed to make sure he didn’t cross any lines and his horny ass didn’t chase her away.
Eye-fucking Sloane was totally inappropriate.
He knew it, but, of course, he did it anyway because, he’d admit it, he was a piece of shit. Because when she turned, his gaze dropped to the two slight indentations above either side of her ass and the way the damp cotton clung to the crease.
One thing was for sure... She had a great fucking ass.
Hell, in his eyes, she had a perfect fucking everything.
Soft thighs that would cushion his hips perfectly, perfectly round ass cheeks, full breasts. Enough flesh over her hips to dig in his fingers to get the perfect hold. Long, shapely legs, perfect to throw over his shoulders.
As soon as her whole body violently shuddered, he hurried to grab her towel and wrap it around her.
He wasn’t just a piece of shit, he was a huge steaming pile of it since he should’ve had the towel ready for her as soon as she stepped out of the water.
But of course, he hadn’t wanted his view encumbered. Total dick move. “Go in before you freeze. I’ll close up and shut down everything out here.”
“I’m afraid as soon as I climb into bed, my mind will start spinning and I’ll be wide awake again.”
He paused while shutting off the jets and lowering the tub’s temperature. “Do you think you’ll need something to help?”
“What do you suggest?”
He had no idea why she was still standing near him when she should be going inside to get warm. If she stayed out there too long, the relaxing and bone-melting effects of the hot tub would be wasted.
“I have some melatonin, if you want it. It’s on the very top shelf in my bathroom closet. I keep all meds out of Val’s reach, so if you have a problem reaching it yourself, just let me know. I only ask that you keep any of your medication locked up or out of reach.”
“I only take…” She paused. “I’ll do that.”
“Even over the counter pain meds like vitamins or aspirin. She usually doesn’t get into stuff but that doesn’t mean she never will. Kids can be curious.”
“I assume you have your service weapons locked up, too?”
“Of course. I have a large gun safe in the garage that’s bolted down to the concrete floor.” In his line of work, he’d seen too many tragic incidents where a gun owner did not secure their weapons and the wrong person got a hold of them, be it a child or someone desperate.
Not securing deadly weapons was a mistake that could never be undone.
Gun safety had always been a priority, even before Val was born.
Once he finished latching and locking the hot tub cover, he turned and saw her unwinding the towel from around her and shrugging on her thick robe.
He clamped a hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the door. “C’mon. Let’s go inside before you get sick.”
“Isn’t that an old wives’ tale?”
“I don’t know but I also don’t want to find out.” After opening the door for her, he followed her into the much warmer kitchen.
She only took a few steps inside before turning and going toe to toe with him. “Thank you for letting me use the hot tub.”
“Like I said, you can use it anytime. This is your home, too, Sloane, for however long you’re here.”
She nodded, but still remained where she stood.
And because she did, he couldn’t resist freeing a wet strand of hair that had escaped the messy bun on the top of her head and clung to her cheek. Wearing her hair up completely exposed her long, delicate throat, as well as the pulse currently pounding in her neck.
Her hand fluttered up to her hair. “It’s a mess.”
When he shook his head, her brow dropped low.
“It’s not?”
“It’s sexy as fuck,” slipped from him before he could bite it back.
Fuck.
Heat replaced the confusion in her eyes. It was best to ignore that reaction.
When Sloane cleared her throat, he noticed a flush climbing from her chest into her cheeks. All from a simple compliment.
“Then, you might need glasses like me. During the day, I usually wear my contacts and keep my hair in some semblance of order in case of an impromptu work meeting, but—”
“I don’t need glasses. I see you clearly.”
Her mouth opened and a soft puff of air escaped. “Well…” She tightened the robe’s belt. “I should…”
“Go to bed, Sloane.” Before I’m tempted to touch something other than a strand of your hair.
Of fucking course he was attracted to her because one, he was a man, two, he had a pair of functioning eyes in their sockets and three, he was not dead. Proof being his cock twitching in his wet boxer briefs.